MEET THE ARTIST
The Story of Tonya Michele
Twenty years of artistry, one chair at a time.
COUTURE COSMETOLOGIST
An Artist with a Mission
Tonya Michele is an award-winning couture cosmetologist and graduate of the prestigious Graham Webb International Hair Academy. She has 20 years of experience working with a diverse array of clientele, including many high-profile professionals. Her work has been showcased in magazines like Mazza, Passion, Hair Extra, Black Sophisticates, and Hype Hair, and she has gained a wealth of knowledge in her field working for fashion shows and celebrity photoshoots in Atlanta and New York City.
Tonya is the winner of the Gross Wade Grant (2024), a Certified Sequence Smoothing Professional (2019), a Certified Microblading and Microshading Technician (2020), and the winner of the Glynn Jackson Golden Scissors Award for Female Stylist of the Year (2015). It is Tonya’s mission to stay at the forefront of her field, and she remains up-to-date on best practices and new industry developments. She can do just about anything for anyone.
She continues to expand her reach in the Maryland area while promoting young and upcoming artists through her business: The Cosmo Lounge Salon.
THE JOURNEY
Two Decades in the Making
From classroom to couture, these are the moments that shaped the artist.
THE BEGINNING
Graham Webb International Hair Academy
Tonya graduated from the prestigous Grahmn Webb International Hair Academy, where she trained under the world-renowned Jerald from Britain. The classical, technique-driven foundation she built here still informs every cut and color today.
BUILDING THE CRAFT
Specialty Certifications
Tonya earned certifications in the Influance Hair Color Line and the Sequence Hair Care Keratin System, two of the most respected names in professional hair care. These credentials gave her the technical depth to handle any color challenge that walks through the door.
RECOGNITION
The Glynn Jackson Golden Scissors Award
Named Female Stylist of the Year by the Glynn Jackson Awards, one of the most prestigious honors in the cosmetology community. The award recognizes both technical mastery and the way a stylist serves her clients and her industry.
GOING NATIONAL
Featured in Top Beauty Magazines
Tonya's creative work has been featured in Mazza, Passion, Hair Extra, Black Sophisticates, and Hype Hair, among others. Each feature opened doors to new audiences and confirmed her reputation as an artist with a distinct point of view.
ON THE BIG STAGE
Hair & Fashion Show Work
Behind the scenes at major hair and fashion shows in Washington, Atlanta, and New York. From celebrity photoshoots to industry tradeshows like Sisters Only, Tonya's work earned her a place in the elite circles of the beauty world.
THE COSMO LOUNGE
Opening Her Own Salon
Tonya opened the Cosmo Lounge Salon in Bowie, Maryland, creating a space for her own work and a home for other independent beauty artists. The Lounge has become a community of stylists, makeup artists, and creators who share her commitment to quality.
TODAY
Building a Legacy
Tonya now balances her client work with developing her own product line, mentoring stylists at the Lounge, and creating educational content. The next chapter is about sharing what she has learned with the next generation.
RECOGNITION
Awards & Honors
Two decades of work recognized by the industry's most respected voices.
Female Stylist of the Year
GLYNN JACKSON GOLDEN SCISSORS
One of the cosmetology industry's most prestigious honors, recognizing excellence in technique, creativity, and client service.
Industry Leader Recognition
COSMETOLOGY COMMUNITY
Recognized as a notable leader in the industry, with influence and engagement that keeps her on the cutting edge of trends and technique.
Master Colorist Certification
INFLUANCE & SEQUENCE SYSTEMS
Certified in two of the most respected professional hair care systems, with deep training in color science and keratin treatments.
AS FEATURED IN
Published & Celebrated
Tonya's creative designs have been featured in some of the most respected names in beauty media.
Mazza
FEATURED STYLIST
Black Sophisticates
INDUSTRY PROFILE
Passion
EDITORIAL SPREAD
Hype Hair
FEATURED ARTIST
Hair Extra
COVER FEATURE
Sisters Only
TRADESHOW TALENT
Behind the Scenes at Major Shows
Tonya has worked the hair and fashion show scenes in Washington, Atlanta, and New York, contributing her artistry to celebrity photoshoots and industry tradeshows. These experiences keep her connected to the wider beauty community and the trends shaping it.
TRAINING & EDUCATION
The Foundation
Every great stylist starts with great training. Here is where Tonya built her foundation.
Graham Webb International Hair Academy
Foundational training under the world-renowned Jerald from Britain. Classical technique, precision cutting, and color theory.
GRADUATE
Influance Hair Color Line Certification
Advanced color science and application techniques. Specialized training in custom formulations and color correction.
CERTIFIED COLORIST
Sequence Hair Care Keratin System
Certification in the Sequence Keratin smoothing and treatment system. Focused on hair restoration and long-term care.
CERTIFIED SPECIALIST
Microblading Certification
Professional training in eyebrow microblading, with a specialty in shaping techniques tailored to facial structure and skin tone.
CERTIFIED ARTIST
THE PERSON BEHIND THE BRAND
Off the Clock
"Beauty is not just what I do. It is who I am, where I came from, and what I want to give back. Every client who sits in my chair leaves with more than a great look. They leave with a piece of two decades of love for this craft."
Tonya is a Native Washingtonian and the proud mother of one son. When she is not in the salon, she is developing new product ideas, exploring the latest in beauty technology, and finding ways to make her work safer and more sustainable for her clients and her family.
She leverages her sphere of influence and engagement to stay on the cutting edge of the cosmetology industry, but she always comes back to the same simple goal: helping women feel confident in their own skin.